Du Plessis makes winning return to UFC with dominant decision over Usman

South African fighter held the middleweight belt ⁠from January 2024 until August 2025 when he lost to Chimaev.Dricus Du Plessis ‌has leaned on his South African roots in his first fight in nearly a year ⁠to secure ⁠a victory by unanimous decision over Nigeria’s Kamaru Usman in the middleweight main event of UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City.The judges on Saturday ⁠scored the bout 50-45, 49-46, 49-46 in favour of Du Plessis (24-3 MMA), who won his first nine UFC bouts and held the middleweight belt ⁠from January 2024 until mid-August last year.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4World Cup 2026 final: Closing ceremony and half-time show – what to knowlist 2 of 4Match Preview: Spain and Argentina collide in seismic World Cup final in USlist 3 of 4Spain vs Argentina: Five key factors that could decide World Cup finallist 4 of 4Messi, Yamal and the World Cup final everyone is waiting forend of listDu Plessis hadn’t fought since that winning streak was snapped by Khamzat Chimaev, who remains champion.“I had to get up,” the 32-year-old said. “There’s so many South African kids that look ‌up to me. “It’s bigger than me. I can’t go lie down.”Dricus Du Plessis, right, fights Kamaru Usman in his first fight in 11 months after losing his middleweight belt [Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images via Reuters]In a fight contested upright with no successful takedowns or submission attempts, Du Plessis didn’t appear rusty whatsoever, finishing with a convincing 139-99 edge in total strikes and landing 136 significant strikes to Usman’s 92.Usman (21-5) was the UFC welterweight champion from March 2019 to November 2021. ⁠However, the Nigerian, 39, has lost four of ⁠his last five fights and couldn’t add a second straight win in his first fight in 13 months this weekend.In the middleweight co-main event, England’s Christian Leroy Duncan (15-2) defeated Jared Cannonier (18-10 MMA) ⁠via unanimous decision. The scorecards read 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 for Duncan.